Bits of dipstick broken off

[endorfin]

I checked my oil yesterday, when I pulled the dipstick out I found that the handle had disintegrated, I managed to get most of the broken plastic out of the dipstick tube but I don't think I got the whole lot so there must be some bit left down the tube. Is this going to cause any problems? Can it get into the engine oil? Is there any way of getting the bits out of the tube?

Anyone got a spare dipstick for a 2.5 TD engine?

[messerschmitt owner]

new dipstick is about a tenner from Citroen

[endorfin]

OK less than I expected, I'll order one tomorrow. What about the bits in the tube? Are they likely to get into the engine & if so cause probs?

[messerschmitt owner]

I think I'd be doing an oil change if I was you.

I would assume that any big particle in the engine, whether plastic or not, has the potential to cause some damage.

On one of my XMs, the top of the dipstick disintegrated but nothing fell down the tube. There are umpteen different dipsticks for the XMs dependent on engine but the one for the 2.1TD was somewhere about £10-12 earlier this year.

[endorfin]

My worry is doesn't the engine oil need to be warm in order for it to drain out properly? I could drain it now but it would be cold and thick no guaranteed the plastic fragments would come out. Also when I push the dipstick in the tube I'm met with some resistance which leads me to think the bits are still stuck in the tube. How the heck do I get that out?

Ordered a new dipstick from Citroen, £8.15 plus vat. The current dipstick obviously won't be forming a tight seal on the tube now, can it still be driven like that, thinking about the pressure.

[xmexclusive]

Hi endorfin

The other bit of bad news is that the sump of a 2.5 is too big to get past the front subframe even if you unbolt it with the engine insitu.
I have watched a garage try all sorts even dropping the subframe on its bolts before giving up and trimming the edges off the subframe so they could remove a leaking sump and fit a new one.
The dipstick tube is removable but again not easy to get to. I have a bottom half engine somewhere in the unit so will take a look when I get the chance.

John

[endorfin]

My brother, a mechanic with his own garage but unfortunately too far away from me to help me is saying that there should be a strainer in the sump that will catch the bits, and to warm engine & change the oil & filter.

[Dieselman]

I can't see small bits of plastic causing any problems, the worst case could be one getting into the oil pump chain and not breaking up, but I think that's a very slim chance.

The crankcase shouldn't pressurise so driving it shouldn't be a problem.

[endorfin]

Well I changed the oil and filter today, it had only done a little over 1,000 miles. I had been using Mann W840 tall filters but none of the motor factors had these tall ones only the squat ones, finally found one at Unipart that wasn't quite as tall as the Mann one. Citroen dealer only had the squat Purflux LS880A (at £15+vat) listed for this engine, just got blank looks when I asked about the tall version.

Have fitted it with the Unipart brand tall oil filter, I normally change my oil every 4,000 miles anyway so I don't suppose it matters.

Found a batch of 8 Purflux LS880A filters on ebay priced at £3.99 so I bought them all, as I say I change my oil every 4k so these should be fine, still a lot cheaper than from Citroen.

While I was at Halfords today, I thought I would get a new drain plug and seals for it as the old drain plug was looking a bit worn. Compared them when I removed the old one and they are exactly the same EXCEPT the new one from Halfords has got a metal bit that seems to have been glued onto the bottom of the plug. I didn't fancy screwing this into the sump, as it looks like its just glued on I'd be paranoid the glue would come unstuck with the heat from the oil and circulate in my engine! See photo below, anyone know what its for?

[xmexclusive]

Hi endorfin

I believe that Citroen changed the spec for the engine filters when they introduced the ESJ9 engine.
The tall LS520C was too tall for the available space so the LS880A was used instead.
This change was also made retrospective for all models that used the tall filter.

John